Latest news with #Lampeter
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Llandovery recognised as joint birthplace of Welsh rugby
Almost 160 years since two teams contested a rugby match, a town has finally been recognised as a birthplace of what would become Wales' national sport. Lampeter has long been known as the home of rugby in Wales in recognition of its role in the match in the village of Caio in 1866 against Llandovery following extensive research by historians, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has awarded equal status to both Lampeter and Llandovery in recognition of their role in pioneering the more than a century and a half later, the town has a new set of entrance signs marking the historical link between Llandovery, its college and the formation of Welsh rugby. The Reverend John Williams, the first warden of Llandovery College in 1848, is credited with having brought rugby to the town. He moved to Carmarthenshire from Edinburgh where he had been first rector of the city's academy. Iestyn Thomas, former rugby coach at Llandovery College, said: "There were a group of schools playing rugby football in Edinburgh at that time and Williams was therefore aware of the game and also of playing against other institutions and brought that with him to Llandovery."This led to Llandovery College squaring up against Lampeter College in 1866 on the fields of Glanrannell Farm in the village of Caio, halfway between the two towns." Though there is little evidence today of that first derby, Caio can lay claim to being the venue for the first ever match in Wales played by two Welsh clubs or Thomas added that it was "quite a game". "It was held during the spring fair where local farm labourers turned up looking for work with local farmers," he said."They saw the game being played and they all apparently jumped in and got involved and the referee had to stop the game and kick them off the pitch." Llandovery went on to excel in the world of rugby and sport. The college produced two players for the first Welsh international rugby fixture as well as being present when the WRU was created in rugby roll of honour continues today. Dominic Findlay, the warden of Llandovery College, said: "Our director of rugby is Nathan Thomas, former Welsh back row. "We are connected with old boys like Alun Wyn Jones and George North."He added the college had "just brought three boys into the professional game with the Scarlets"."Our current number 10 is Carwyn Leggett Jones, who has just played in the under-20s. So the future is hugely exciting," he said. He added that many of the greats in Welsh rugby had nurtured their skills and magic at Llandovery College, with more than 50 students earning more than 550 caps for rugby coach Carwyn James also taught at the college from 1956 to 1969, where he made a lasting impact. Llandovery being officially recognised as the co-founder of rugby in Wales alongside Lampeter University was "a huge honour," councillor Handel Davies said. "It came as a shock to a lot of people," he said."Nobody knew much about it. Everybody says they saw the sign in Lampeter and they thought that was where rugby was born, but I said 'it takes two to tango'."Now the attention is turning to Caio, with one villager saying a plaque was needed on Glanrannell field to mark its contribution to sporting history as home of the first ever competitive rugby match played in Wales.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lampeter UWTSD campus plans progress with purchase of £1.8m farm
A council has bought a farm valued at more than £1.8m as part of plans to deliver vocational and post-16 courses including agriculture on a university council leader Brian Davies said a loan was provided by the Welsh government to enable the authority to buy the farm, which adjoins the University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) campus in the start of the year UWTSD announced undergraduate teaching at the campus would end in September, with students able to continue their studies in authority said its aim was to "secure a sustainable future for the campus" by developing new courses there. Following the announcement about the future of the campus there were concerns in Lampeter about the impact the course closures would have on the the time, almost 6,000 people signed a petition calling on the university to provide a sustainable future for the historic recent months university chiefs have been in discussion with Ceredigion council about using part of the local authority has now said the campus plans to deliver post-16 vocational courses with an emphasis on agriculture, horticulture, gastronomy and construction. Davies said buying the neighbouring 150-acre farm, including outbuildings and a farmhouse, was "crucial" for the delivery of a post-16 course in agriculture which was not currently available in the rural said Welsh government ministers had been "kept in the loop" about the council's plans from the very outset, adding: "They can see the benefits of the vision here, and they were happy to give us the money to purchase the farm."An online advert for the farm - called Llettytwppa - listed an asking price of more than £1.8m. Davies would not specify how much the council had paid for it, but said it was "the market value". The Lampeter campus is the oldest in Wales and has been described as the birthplace of higher education in the country. It was founded in 1822 as St David's College to provide education for members of the time a range of new courses were introduced, and it developed into a university, teaching both undergraduates and in recent years the number of students in Lampeter declined and in January UWTSD confirmed 200 years of undergraduate teaching would come to an end, with humanities courses being transferred to its campus in Carmarthen in university had said previously that, with just 92 undergraduate students, it was "not viable" to maintain the infrastructure of the campus, which cost £2.7m per year to March UWTSD started to meet with stakeholders, including Ceredigion council, to discuss what were described as "viable proposals" for the future of the campus, and, in June, UWTSD and Ceredigion council said they were exploring plans to develop post-16 vocational training at the council said other vocational and skills-based courses would be developed over the next three years and it aimed to provide additional community facilities on the site.A-level courses would not be provided on the campus, which could not compete with school sixth forms in terms of academic provision, the council added. Davies said the campus had "significant potential" and the local authority wanted "to secure a sustainable future for the campus".He added the vocational courses would enable students to develop the skills required to meet employer needs around the region, with young people able to stay in their communities. Emlyn Dole, chair of the university's council, said the purchase was an "exciting opportunity" which would strengthen community links and support the rural economy.A series of public meetings are to be held over the coming months to discuss the plans.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lampeter Swimming Pool to close during summer holidays
A swimming pool is going to close for a large part of the summer holidays. Lampeter Swimming Pool in Ceredigion is set to close from 7 July to 11 August 2025 as part of a £140,000 investment to upgrade the facility, including improvements to the water treatment equipment in the plant the closure means many children will be without access to the pool for a large part of their summer break. Ceredigion council has thanked the public for their patience and understanding as it works to enhance the experience of users. It also said Lampeter Wellbeing Centre will be unaffected by the Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services Catrin Davies said the 50-year-old facility is an "extremely important resource" in mid Ceredigion and will close temporarily to "enhance the facilities offered"."We hope these works doesn't cause too much inconvenience to users," Ms Davies added.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New uni campus plans as 200 years of teaching ends
Plans are being explored to develop post-16 vocational training at the University of Wales Trinity St David. Despite protests in Lampeter and at the Senedd, the university confirmed in January that 200 years of undergraduate teaching would end in the Ceredigion town, with humanities courses being transferred to Carmarthen in September 2025. The university previously said it was "not viable" to maintain the infrastructure of the campus with just 92 undergraduate students. But plans for skills training at the site have been described as "very, very exciting" by the leader of Ceredigion council. Both University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) and the council have confirmed they are in the "early stages of scoping opportunities" to develop skills and vocational provision at Lampeter. UWTSD said in November 2024 that the Lampeter campus costs £2.7m a year to run and the backlog maintenance and compliance costs for the campus were estimated at £33.5m. 'Long-term decline' in students at troubled university Students may leave uni over plan to move department Universities facing 'massive' financial challenges Almost 6,000 people signed a petition calling on the university to provide a "sustainable future for the historic campus" after it announced plans to move undergraduate teaching. Since March it has been meeting with stakeholders, including the council, to discuss "viable proposals" for the future of the campus. No details have been revealed about what kind of vocational training could be offered. In a joint statement, Bryan Davies, leader of the council, and Emlyn Dole, chairman of UWTSD council, said the work to develop the project was "ongoing". "This represents an exciting opportunity to explore how the university's Lampeter campus can continue to make a significant contribution to the regional economy and to the wider Lampeter community," they said. Mr Dole confirmed the university would retain ownership of the Lampeter campus. He said: "Regionally, it is vital, and it's important that we're front and centre." Mr Davies said the proposed centre was not designed to provide academic courses. "If you're going to draw students in to here it's going to be good for the local economy and for the young people who are perhaps going out of county for their vocational training," he added. The local authority and UWTSD have not revealed any further details about the project, but council cabinet members were asked on 3 June to back the purchase of a "strategic asset" funded through a loan from the Welsh government. The details of the asset have been kept secret and it is not clear whether this relates to the announcement about proposed vocational provision at Lampeter. A report presented at the meeting by Clive Davies, cabinet member for economy, regeneration and carbon management, said "the asset would form part of a wider development, for which a full integrated impact assessment will be produced and considered". Members authorised the purchase of the asset and agreed a further report be received following completion of the legal agreement to purchase it, to provide the public with more detail.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lampeter campus plan at University of Wales Trinity St David site
Plans are being explored to develop post-16 vocational training at the University of Wales Trinity St protests in Lampeter and at the Senedd, the university confirmed in January that 200 years of undergraduate teaching would end in the Ceredigion town, with humanities courses being transferred to Carmarthen in September university previously said it was "not viable" to maintain the infrastructure of the campus with just 92 undergraduate plans for skills training at the site have been described as "very, very exciting" by the leader of Ceredigion council. Both University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) and the council have confirmed they are in the "early stages of scoping opportunities" to develop skills and vocational provision at said in November 2024 that the Lampeter campus costs £2.7m a year to run and the backlog maintenance and compliance costs for the campus were estimated at £33.5m. Almost 6,000 people signed a petition calling on the university to provide a "sustainable future for the historic campus" after it announced plans to move undergraduate March it has been meeting with stakeholders, including the council, to discuss "viable proposals" for the future of the details have been revealed about what kind of vocational training could be offered. In a joint statement, Bryan Davies, leader of the council, and Emlyn Dole, chairman of UWTSD council, said the work to develop the project was "ongoing"."This represents an exciting opportunity to explore how the university's Lampeter campus can continue to make a significant contribution to the regional economy and to the wider Lampeter community," they said. Mr Dole confirmed the university would retain ownership of the Lampeter said: "Regionally, it is vital, and it's important that we're front and centre."Mr Davies said the proposed centre was not designed to provide academic courses."If you're going to draw students in to here it's going to be good for the local economy and for the young people who are perhaps going out of county for their vocational training," he added. The local authority and UWTSD have not revealed any further details about the project, but council cabinet members were asked on 3 June to back the purchase of a "strategic asset" funded through a loan from the Welsh details of the asset have been kept secret and it is not clear whether this relates to the announcement about proposed vocational provision at Lampeter.A report presented at the meeting by Clive Davies, cabinet member for economy, regeneration and carbon management, said "the asset would form part of a wider development, for which a full integrated impact assessment will be produced and considered".Members authorised the purchase of the asset and agreed a further report be received following completion of the legal agreement to purchase it, to provide the public with more detail.
